LOS ANGELES \u2014 The story has everything that a comic book needs, like rippling muscles, heaving bosoms, torture, seduction, superhuman feats of strength and moments of crippling guilt.<\/p>\n\n
The story builds through pages of dramatic close-ups, epic slaughters and cosmic revelations until, finally, the hero faces his ultimate decision. Will he take a leap of faith and risk everything?<\/p>\n\n
\u201cOh Lord God! Hear me please. Give me strength this one last time,\u201d he prays. \u201cI am prepared! You strengthen me, oh Lord! \u2026 Now let me die here with the Philistines!\u201d<\/p>\n\n
Anyone who knows comics knows what happens next in \u201cSamson: Judge of Israel,\u201d by Mario Ruiz and Jerry Novick. What happens next is painted in giant, ragged, screaming letters that say \u201cGRRUUNN,\u201d \u201cCRAACCKK,\u201d \u201cAAAIIIEEE\u201d and one final \u201cWHUMP!\u201d<\/p>\n\n
The great Bible stories \u2014 such as Samson in the book of Judges \u2014 are packed with the epic visions and good-versus-evil absolutes that fill the pages of classic comics and their modern, supercharged siblings known as \u201cgraphic novels\u201d or works of \u201csequential art.\u201d But what is less obvious is that some of today\u2019s most popular and influential comic-book artists are drawing their inspiration from deep wells of faith and classic religious stories, according to Leo Partible, an independent movie producer, graphic artist and writer.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cAnyone who knows where to look can find plenty of examples of faith in the comics and the culture that surrounds them,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is darkness there, but lots of light, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
Thus, in the influential \u201cSuperman For All Seasons,\u201d a young Clark Kent turns to his pastor for help as he struggles to discern what to do with his life and unique abilities. Hollywood writer Kevin Smith\u2019s \u201cDaredevil\u201d hero wrestles with guilt while leaning on his Catholic faith. The mutant X-Man Nightcrawler quotes scripture and talks openly about sin, penance and righteousness.<\/p>\n\n
The mystery of the Shroud of Turin is woven into Doug TenNapel\u2019s sprawling \u201cCreature Tech,\u201d which probes questions about faith and science. Artist Scott McDaniel\u2019s website (www.scottmcdaniel.net) mixes discussions of faith and art with its pages of Nightwing, Batman and Spider-Man illustrations. The graphic novel \u201cKingdom Come,\u201d which helped redefine the modern comics, keeps quoting the Revelation of St. John as it paints an Armageddon vision for the superheroes of the past.<\/p>\n\n
The 36-year-old Partible can quote chapter and verse on dozens of other examples as he races through stacks of well-worn comics, tracing the spiritual journeys of heroes old and new. It\u2019s crucial to understand, he said, that comic books are not just for children. They are a powerful force in movies, television, animation, popular music and video games. Hollywood studies the comics.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cComics offer a powerful combination of visual art, the written word and the imagination,\u201d he said. \u201cFor millions of people around the world, comic books are a bridge between literature and the silver screen. \u2026 This is where some of our most powerful myths and iconic images come from, whether you\u2019re talking about stories that were shaped by the comics \u2014 such as the work of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg \u2014 or actual comic-book stories like the X-Men and Spider-Man. <\/p>\n\n
\u201cPeople have to be blind not to see this trend. It\u2019s everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
Meanwhile, traditional religious believers who work in the comic-book industry face the same questions as believers who work in other mainstream media, said Partible. Should they be involved in artistic projects that dabble in the occult, if that is what it takes to land a job? How much sex and violence is too much? Should they flee the mainstream and start a \u201cContemporary Christian Comics\u201d subculture that produces predictable products for Bible bookstores?<\/p>\n\n
It\u2019s crucial, said Partible, that traditional believers stay right where they are in mainstream comics, helping shape some of the myths and epic stories that inspire millions. They also can help young artists break into an industry that needs both new ideas and old values.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cPeople are looking for heroes,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople are looking for answers to the big questions, like, \u2018What in the hell am I doing here?\u2019 I asked that question when I was a kid and some of the comic books I read did a better job of answering it that many of the sermons I heard from preachers back then.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LOS ANGELES \u2014 The story has everything that a comic book needs, like rippling muscles, heaving bosoms, torture, seduction, superhuman feats of strength and moments of crippling guilt. The story builds through pages of dramatic close-ups, epic slaughters and cosmic revelations until, finally, the hero faces his ultimate decision. Will he take a leap of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":610,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[431,582,666,870,909],"class_list":["post-1254","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-hollywood","tag-myths","tag-pop-culture","tag-tolkien","tag-video-games"],"yoast_head":"\n